How to Clean Your Custom-Made Jewelry

Firstly figure out what the jewelry you will be cleaning is made of. Is it all gold, silver, or a mixture of metals and jewels? Knowing what it is made of will give you a better idea of how you need to clean it or what you should stay away from when you do clean it.

Diamonds

Simply take some warm soapy water and a soft tooth brush and polish the diamond clean. Do not use anything else to clean the diamond for example toothpaste has been used to potentially make the diamond sparkle longer. By doing this, certain toothpaste can be abrasive to certain metal around the diamond. 

Gold

Gold can be cleaned similarly to the diamond method with the exception of the soap must be dish soap. By using general shower soaps used in the shower it will cause whatever gold that is exposed to the soap to look tarnished. When cleaning gold make sure to use soft bristles as to not cause abrasion on the item. Avoid chlorine when cleaning your gold, too high of a concentrate will also cause your gold to look tarnished. If your gold is tarnished then simply add some ammonia to the soapy cleaning solution while brushing it with soft bristles to help restore some of the original shine.

Silver

Silver is a softer metal and will scratch if anything too rough of texture scratches against it. It is advised that when cleaning silver to use a silver polishing cloth or something of similar texture. Do not use the same method to clean silver as you would gold. Even a soft bristle maybe too much for some silver jewelry. 

Pearls

When dirty, pearls are easily cleaned by using 1 teaspoon of Woolite mixed in 1 quart of water. Submerge the pearls into the solution you have made for 20 seconds remove and wipe down with a soft cloth. Once you have cleaned the pearls to their original color lay them out to dry.

What if you are afraid to clean the jewelry yourself? 

Most jewelers and big department stores will refuse to clean or even inspect anything that is not theirs. This is especially true if you hand made it yourself. If you feel it is valuable and you want to have someone professional clean it there are some stores and places that will accept the item and clean it. This may cost only a few dollars but it will be done with professional tools and cleaners. It is worth looking into if you are afraid of damaging or causing abrasions to your own jewelry.

Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry if you're unsure of how to go about cleaning that custom jewelry or if you want us to give it a nice shine. We'd love to have you stop in! 

Why Jewelry Services are Important

Most people think only about the purchase price of their jewelry, without acknowledging that the piece is going to need maintaining over time. That’s why it’s a mistake to go for the most affordable piece of jewelry with each purchase. It makes much more sense to invest in jewelry that’s backed by a good reliable company. The right company will offer additional services like maintenance and continued care after the purchase. 

Cleaning Your Jewelry

Many of the best jewelry stores offer cleanings included with the piece sold, and many will give a discounted rate to buyers. It’s important to keep your jewelry clean, and if you don’t want to get the tools and equipment to do the job yourself, you should have a trained professional do it for you. Cleaning your jewelry regularly will ensure that it doesn’t degrade and that you enjoy the same high-quality piece for many years. 

Repairs and Adjustments

Another consideration that you need to make is for repairs and adjustments. If you buy a piece of jewelry from a low-quality location, you won’t be able to get repairs as they are needed. That means you could end up paying for a whole new piece of jewelry, or costly repairs at another location if something happens to your ring, necklace, or whatever the piece of jewelry is. Top notch locations warranty their pieces and leave you with a guarantee that you can get the help you need if something malfunctions on your jewelry. 

It's possible that you’ll need your ring sized up or down in the future as well. It’s possible to get discounts or have that service included with some purchases from the store. Think about all the extras that you could be getting with your jewelry and don’t overlook them. You may not think a free cleaning seems like much at the time of your purchase, but it’s important to maintain your jewelry and it’s nice to get maintenance services affordably as well. 

Don’t go for the cheapest jewelry, go for quality jewelry that’s backed by the store you buy it from. You’ll be happier with your purchase and will have far less to worry about as well. Sure you might spend a bit more money, but you’ll know where to bring that piece of jewelry if you ever have a problem with it, and that’s worth a whole lot. Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry to find that perfect piece. 

How to Wear Jewelry Responsibly

As a serious jewelry owner, there are steps that you should be taking to preserve the life and look of your favorite jewelry pieces. This includes doing things like taking off pieces of your jewelry when you are doing certain tasks. Learn when to take off your jewelry and you’ll keep it in good shape and extend the life of your pieces dramatically. 

Avoid Swimming Pools

Jewelry doesn’t do well in chlorinated water and that’s something that you want to avoid exposing your pieces to as much as possible. The chlorine in swimming pools can react with certain metals in jewelry leading to color changes over time and even structural damage over time. 

Slip Jewelry on After You Get Ready for the Day

Hair spray, perfume, lotion and other cosmetics are bad for jewelry. That’s why you should wait until you’ve applied all that stuff before you put on your accessories. By waiting until the end, you avoid exposing your jewelry to the harmful chemicals and keep it in better shape overall. This is a good habit to get into each time you get ready, even if you aren’t always using all those damaging products. 

Avoid Jewelry when Performing Chores at Home

Housework is hard on jewelry as well and something that you want to avoid doing when you’re dressed up with your favorite pieces. Try to avoid wearing rings, bracelets and other pieces of jewelry that are going to be around your hands while you do everyday cleaning tasks. Whether you’re washing dishes, digging in the garden, or just cleaning up your home, it’s best to do so without much jewelry on. 

Store it with Care

When you aren’t wearing your jewelry, you should take the time and put in the effort to store it all carefully. Invest in a good quality jewelry box that separates your pieces from one another, or invest in soft jewelry bags to store your pieces in. You want to keep the different items from rubbing together during storage, to keep your jewelry in good shape for as long as possible. This is especially true when storing soft and hard items together because items like diamonds can easily scratch up gold rings and other softer metals. 

Taking care of jewelry is an important part of ownership, and it’s the only way that you’ll preserve your investment over time. Just make sure that you keep these best-practices in mind each time that you use your jewelry and you’ll keep your collection in better shape over time and get much more use out of your jewelry. Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry to learn the best care instructions needed for all of your jewelry pieces.

Understanding Obsidian Jewelry

While most people decide to purchase precious stones or gems for their jewelry pieces, few consider the beauty of obsidian. Obsidian actually isn’t’ a precious stone at all, and is a type of durable glass formed when lave cools very quickly. Obsidian can be found all over the world and it comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and looks. 

The Different Types of Obsidian

There is plain black obsidian that’s lustrous and beautiful as is, but there are other special varieties to look out for as well. If you’re looking for something a bit more interesting than plain black obsidian, consider sheen obsidian, rainbow obsidian or snowflake obsidian. Sheen obsidian looks like a bunch of little stars on top of a black backdrop thanks to a bunch of tiny pockets of air that create cool reflections. Rainbow obsidian shows off a range of beautiful colors along with the black, and snowflake obsidian has white crystals that look very similar to snowflakes. Each type is beautiful, but it’s up to you the type that you want. 

Caring for Obsidian

Unlike many other types of jewelry, obsidian is pretty delicate. It’s prone to scratching and can be shattered if you drop it on a hard surface. That’s why you must take good care of this precious glass to ensure that it lasts over time. Keep it securely fastened at all times and avoid wearing it when you’ll be doing something particularly active. Obsidian is probably not the right type of accessory to wear when you’re going out to go dancing all night. 

Wearing it with Pride

Obsidian is a more understated type of jewelry and is perfect when paired with bright and flashy outfits. Use the obsidian as an accent that won’t bring your look over the top. Instead, it will make it more interesting while keeping things low key. Obsidian comes in a range of colors, so keep your intended use in mind when purchasing it from a jeweler for the best results. 

Obsidian is a cool form of jewelry that few people make use of today. It comes with rings, necklaces, earrings and just about every other form that you would expect of jewelry. It’s generally rounded and very shiny making it a cool looking form of jewelry to wear for all sorts of occasions. Invest in Obsidian today and enjoy some of the nicest and most unique looking pieces of jewelry that you have in your collection. Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry to find out the unique styles of jewelry we carry.

Why Platinum is an Excellent Material to Use for Jewelry

There are many different precious metals that people choose to use for jewelry today and it’s important to choose the right one for you. While gold and silver offer a lot of benefits and they look nice, they don’t offer many of the same benefits that platinum does. That’s why so many people are opting for platinum in their jewelry pieces instead of the alternatives. Below is an overview of why Platinum is an ideal choice for things like bracelets, wedding bands and other pieces of jewelry. 

It’s Durable

Platinum is a highly durable metal that stands up to hard use over time. It’s known for not exhibiting many signs of wear, even when used over a prolonged period. Platinum does not tarnish over time like silver does, helping it to maintain its original appearance over time. 

It’s Hypoallergenic

Some people are allergic to silver and other metals and this makes owning the jewelry an unenjoyable experience. That’s not the case with platinum. The metal is hypoallergenic, meaning that nobody suffers from allergies to it. That means you can purchase platinum jewelry with confidence that it won’t cause a reaction. 

It’s Valuable

Platinum is one of the rarest metals on the planet, meaning that it will maintain its value nicely over time. Around 10 tons of ore need to be mined in order to produce an ounce of platinum, that makes it over three times more rare than gold is. 

It’s a Good Value

Despite its rarity and its durability, platinum is still rather affordable. It will hold its value really well over time, and still can be purchased at prices comparable to gold and other precious metals. If you’re looking for jewelry that’s an excellent value, getting one composed of platinum is a good solid investment. 

It’s Beautiful

Platinum is a lustrous metal that shines brilliantly. This really helps it look nice alongside diamonds or other precious gems. The shine from platinum will help set of your ring, earrings, bracelet or whatever piece of jewelry that it’s being used in. This is the main reason that people decide to go with platinum jewelry. 

There’s just something special about platinum that makes it a really nice choice for most pieces of jewelry. Sure there are other options on the market that will work well too, but you really can’t go wrong with platinum. Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry to find the perfect piece for you! 

What is a Diamond Laser Inscription and Why it’s Important?

When buying diamonds for any jewelry that you’ll be using it’s important to understand laser inscription and why it can help you make a more informed decision. Basically, laser inscription is a way for companies or countries to mark their diamonds in a specific way. It’s a tagging system for diamonds that lets you know some more information about them than what you can tell just by looking at them. 

How Does Laser Inscription Work?

A precise laser from a specialized machine is used to mark the bottom of a diamond with a precise list of numbers or letters. The markings are very small and only visible if you are looking at the right area of the diamond with proper tools and equipment. Laser inscription does not harm the integrity of a diamond and actually helps give you the assurance that you are buying a high-quality product. 

What Does Laser Inscription Tell You?

Most quality diamonds are graded in a lab to ensure that they are the quality that they say they are. When the lab grading is done the diamonds are given a certificate that says all the information about them. Not only do these diamonds come with a certificate, but they are also often inscribed making sure that they have a matching number to what is on the certificate from the lab. That’s how you’ll know for sure that you are receiving the product that you are supposed to be receiving. You simply match the numbers from the inscription to the certificate that comes with the diamond. If you can do that then you know the diamond is legitimate, otherwise it could have been sourced from anywhere and may not be the grade the seller claims it is. 

When you are buying diamonds on your own, it’s important to look for this inscription yourself and to verify that it’s the proper number for the certificate. Always look at the number and then the certificate from a grading lab. If there is no certificate you should be careful about making the purchase unless you’re a diamond specialist and you know how to do the grading yourself. Diamonds can be very expensive and it’s important that you are getting what you are paying for. Utilize laser inscriptions to help you make the right decision before making the final purchase. 

Speak with Draper's Jewelry today if you're searching for a piece of unique, beautiful jewelry. We can help! 

How to Handle a Lost Stone from a Piece of Jewelry

To most people, jewelry holds a special value beyond what it’s actually worth. That’s why it can be a heartbreaking experience losing a stone out of your favorite earring, necklace or ring. Fortunately, if something like this happens to you you’re not stuck without options. There are a few things that you can do to get your piece of jewelry looking like new once again. 

Find the Missing Stone

Before you run out and have a brand-new stone put into your piece of jewelry, take some time to look around your home, the store, your office or anywhere else where the stone could have fallen out. Think about the last place you wore your jewelry and retrace your steps to see if you can get lucky and obtain the missing stone. If you do find the missing stone it’s a simple matter to head into your jewelry professional and have it reseated once again. 

Obtain a Replacement

Most of the time you aren’t going to be able to find the stone that fell out of your necklace, your earrings or your ring. When that happens you’ll have to seek out a replacement instead. It’s not difficult to have a stone replaced in your jewelry, even if you have a custom piece. You’ll just need to visit your local jeweler and have your jewelry examined to find out exactly what type of replacement piece is necessary. From there you’ll receive a quote for the part and repair, and you can leave your piece with the jeweler to be made whole again. Once the work is done you’ll be called in to pick your piece up and it will be as good as new. 

Work with Skilled Professionals

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to work with trained professionals when having a piece of jewelry repaired. These guys have dealt with similar repairs in the past, and they understand the process of obtaining the right gems to match your need, and shaping them to fit precisely where the old stone once did. 

It’s heartbreaking when a piece of jewelry falls apart, but you don’t have to live in despair. It’s a simple process obtaining a repair and you can enjoy your jewelry as if it were brand new all over again with the right professional to help you out. Call us here at Draper's Jewelry to find out how we can help with that beautiful piece of jewelry.